Delightful Dairy Items

Collector revives milking machines, milk scales and other dairy items

At front, a DeLaval milker, completely restored to a gleaming finish. At back, left to right: A Calf Way, BLK, and another DeLaval.

Joe Pedro, flanked by an Eveready milker on the left and a 1929 Chore Boy Model #2. Actively collecting for the past 12 years, Joe's a good source of advice for the novice dairy collector. "Don't turn nothing down," he said. And if a piece is less than complete when purchased, "You're going to have to look hard to find parts."

Made in Chicago: The Surge Pine Tree milking machine

Although dairy items are not easy to come by in California, the state boasts a heap of collectors. Shown here: 1923 Model T decked out for DeLaval, and a selection of milking machines, all from the collection of George Mendoza, Lindsay, Calif.